What Salt is the right salt?

[TXChewy]

So how and why does everyone choose and use the salt they do?

Pros and Cons of the different brands?

What brand do you recomend?

Sorry completly question based thread but reading the salt thread above doesnt mean much to me. Its great to get those numbers but I think supplements will always be used so is one salt better?

[B.C.theReefer]

I've tried Seachem Reef Salt, Ocean Pure, and Instant Ocean. The Seachem, in my opinion, is the best out of these three. OP would be my next choice. My reef didn't care for IO. The reason for this is SRF has higher levels of calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium. This is good because these are extremely important parameters to maintain in a reef. Having more of these in your salt mix means less that needs to be added by supplementation. (granted you do regular water changes)

Just remember, the salt mix you use will be the basis for your water quality. So being choosy is a good thing.

[redfishsc]

Lots of people use Instant Ocean BUT THEY HAVE to boost the calcium and magnesium.

I personally would look into the ones with beefier numbers, like Reef Crystals, Seachem (as per the above poster), Ocean Pure.


Avoid Coralife. It has "good" numbers, but the problem is there is a lot of info from other reef keepers that their parameters vary, sometimes wildly.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I fall into the group that starts with Instant Ocean and boosts it with Dowflake for calcium and MAG flake for magnesium. The reasons are it is very cheap, I get exactly what I want and not what I don't want, and I generally like the mix of other ions that have historically been found in IO (not the ones we usually measure, but the other ones that I neither measure nor otherwise supplement). :)

[mlbarry]

I started with IO and was boosting the CA and MG all the time. Now I just use Reef Crystals and don't have to boost those things.

[HighlandReefer]

The perfect salt mix for one may not be the perfect salt mix for another. As far as ease of use, then selecting a mix which closest matches your needs is best. As far as cost, then choosing a mix that you supplement with Randy's mixes may be more cost effective, especially if you have a larger tank. If you look at the Salt mix contents for the alk., calcium & magnesium, you will find that all the salt mixes are a little different.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I started with IO and was boosting the CA and MG all the time. Now I just use Reef Crystals and don't have to boost those things.

True, but you also get vitamins in the water. I prefer to not have them. :)

[TXChewy]

Thanks Everyone

Now I need to find pics of your tanks. I guess I should do what most people do. Find the look you are going for and try to copy it.

[hefeweizan]

Where can i get Dowflake for calcium and MAG flake for magnesium? Cheap!

[hefeweizan]

Randy, do you use IO or IO Reef Crystals?

[Rueg]

I use 50% Reef Crystals and 50% Instant Ocean. I don't have to add anything additional using this mix - it comes out just right.

[Billybeau1]

Randy uses and have used Instant Ocean for years.

He eats a well balanced diet so he does not need vitamins. :D

[erbio]

Rueg, smart thinking.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

[B]Where can i get Dowflake for calcium and MAG flake for magnesium? Cheap![?B]

I bought my Dowflake at Home Depot, and MAG flake is also sold there, but if that is not an option, then you can buy them or similar products here:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Calcium,-Alkalinity-&-Magnesium/c1/index.html

and

http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/showproducts.asp?Sub=124&showspecials=124